Love And Other Drugs

The large empty warehouse was hot and filled with people. Hair people, makeup people and women running around with various outfits and props. The Hollywood Dolls were all seated in a separate section away from it all, nervously conversing lowly while they waited. They had all talked at lunch, vowing to one another that they would stick by eachother, no matter what. It had all been a little too mushy for Mads, but the grumpy girl had agreed that they needed to stick together. Luxe was nervous-she had never done a photoshoot before and she really wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. Each girl was being called forward for their individual shot and right now it was Pixie's turn.

The tiny girl, with her black and blonde hair teased so high that it made her seem a foot taller, was standing in front of a black background. She had been given an outfit that fit her well-the tight pink leggings stuck to her legs, ending in a pair of black spiked heels with buckles across the ankles. Her torso was covered in a very tight corset top that pushed up her small chest and the frosty white fabric made her skin glow. They had done Pixie's face up beautifully, making her light eyes pop with the white eye makeup and heavy black liner. Luxe laughed softly as Pixie struck a pose, her hands on her knees as her feet pointed inward.

Lulu was dressed in all purple, her tight black pants ripped to show striped purple and white tights underneath. Her corset-they were all wearing them-was a deep purple with a black lace design that swirled across her chest as well. Her black and orange hair was pulled back in to two pigtails and her bright eyes, filled with laughter right now, were heavily lined with black and purple shadows. She had on a pair of tall boots, which gave her height and she was almost as tall as Charlotte.

The other guitarist, while not enthused at first to be here, seemed to be enjoying the rockstar treatment. Charlotte was in all black, from her steel toed boots with the studs all over, to her heavily lined eyes. Black corset top, black fishnet sleeves and a black skirt which was short in the front and long in the back. The guitarist was currently laughing with Mads about something and as Luxe looked her over, she wondered why Charlotte wasn't the leader of the group. She was the loudest, most outspoken and she looked out for them all. But Alex kept telling the girls that Luxe was to be front and center in every group shot and it made the singer uncomfortable.

Mads, dressed in a red corset top, with a torn black skirt that showed off her amazing legs, was actually smiling, her black and red hair down in her face and pin straight. Her dark eyes looked amazing with all of the red makeup and tiny jewels that had been placed at the corners and Luxe couldn't help but feel like the angry girl was finally starting to warm up to her. They barely spoke, but when Luxe had come to the girls a few days ago, talking about everything that had happened with Andy, Mads had hugged her right after Charlotte and held her for more than a minute.

Luxe looked down at herself, smirking at the teal and white corset top that they had squeezed her in to and that was now cutting off her oxygen. Her legs were sheathed in a pair of pants so tight and with so many tears and rips she was shocked that they were still on her body. Her tiny feet looked huge in the black lace up boots that some girl had shoved on to them and they were starting to hurt, even though it hadn't even been her turn to get out there yet. They had pulled, teased and sprayed her hair until it stood straight up and then they brushed it down once again. Her face was covered in makeup, to the point where the only thing Lucinda recognized of herself were her light grey eyes that were framed by thick teal and white eyeliner. Pixie came prancing in to the room, sweat on her brow, but she still had a smile on her face.


"That was so much fun! Luxe you're next!" Pixie smiled at her and the singer felt like her heart was going to explode.

"Good luck!" Charlotte called after her, a smirk on her purple painted lips and Luxe only rolled her eyes at her friend as she walked around the corner.


The area the girls had been sitting in had been quiet and calm-a lush velvet couch with some other chairs and snacks for them to munch on. Outside of that area it was pure chaos and at first Luxe wasn't sure where she should go. There were bright lights, cameras, people with phones up to their ears and walkie talkies up to their lips. Finally she spotted Alex-the rat-and a smallish woman who was standing by with a huge camera in her hands. Luxe almost tripped over a wire, but her mouth was hung open as she took in the set before her.

The background was black, but there was also a deep black velvet couch sitting in front of it. Off to the side were instruments for the other girls and right front and center of the set was an old fashioned microphone that was covered in black crystals and sparkled in the light. There was also a pile of dolls off to the side, some of them ragged and broken looking. Luxe didn't know where to focus her attentions and finally she made it to where Alex and the woman were standing. He smiled gently at her, holding out his hands for hers and Luxe only looked at him.


"You look amazing Luxe. This is Anne and she will be taking care of all of your photos today. First we're going to have you sitting on the couch, lounging perhaps. Just act natural and listen to Anne..." Alex said the last part in her ear lowly and Luxe only nodded her head as she took a seat on the couch.

"Now, I want you to spread your legs out in front of you. Yep just like that and look at me like you can't stand me." Anne instructed her and Luxe did as she was told.


She was looking right at the camera like she hated it and the two people she kept running through her mind were Alex and Andy. She moved around like Anne told her to-standing up finally after a few shots on the couch and Luxe grabbed the mic and held it to her lips. Her lips were painted a bright cherry red and as she let them linger just above the mic, Luxe knew that this was easier than it looked. She was kept like that for what felt like an hour, but soon enough she was told that she was finished and that the other girls would be coming in to do some group shots. Luxe watched as all of the girls walked around the corner, stopped to pick up their instruments and then headed over towards where she was standing.

Pixie and Char had their guitars, both white with black and purple swirls all over the surface, while Lulu had her beloved black bass and Mads just had her black and red drumsticks held between her fingers. Luxe grabbed the microphone and moved to the side slightly so that Charlotte could also be up front. Luxe never felt like the leader and so she often would just let Charlotte make the decisions, but it was clear by the look on Alex's face, that Charlotte being front and center was not what was supposed to be going on right now. Quickly he approached them, grabbing Char's shoulders as he moved her behind Luxe slightly and then grabbed Luxe and moved her so that she was exactly in the middle.


"There we go girls. Lead singer always stands front and center." He said and Luxe felt her cheeks begin to flame.

"Why? Char's just as important as Luxe is..." Pixie said but then quickly grew silent as Alex stared her down.

"Because Luxe is our lead. She will be the one on the covers, her style will be the style that girls all over the country will want to imitate. She's the star..." Alex explained as the girls posed and tried to look towards the camera.

"We're all stars." Mads said as she crossed her arms over her chest, but Anne kept on snapping away.

"No-you're a drummer. Someone that only a few people will favor, but that's okay...less pressure on your shoulders." Alex said and the girls all stayed silent.

"But I don't understand-we're a team." Pixie spoke up and Luxe could tell that Alex was getting annoyed.

"Yeah, I mean I thought we would all take turns." Lulu said from behind her and Luxe suddenly felt really nervous. This was the type of stuff that seemed to make Alex really mad.

"You will do what I tell you." Alex said as he stared them all down. Why were they being so difficult? Didn't they understand that there was a process...a method?

"What if we don't like what you have to say?" Charlotte said as she draped an arm around Luxe's shoulders and pulled the smaller girl closer. She could see that this was making Luxe pretty uncomfortable and it was clear the singer didn't like conflict.

"Then you can walk." Alex said simply.

"What?! You need us...remember?" Mads said from the back and Alex only smirked as he walked up to the drummer and was now standing toe to toe with the overly angry girl.

"I don't need trouble and trouble is exactly what you are. Do you girls not get it? There are hundreds of girls out there...just like you. I could go out on Hollywood Boulevard right now and find ten Pixies or over a hundred Charlottes." Alex said matter of factly and it all began to click in their brains.

"But you said we're the best." Lulu said sadly as she moved to stand closer to Pixie. The two girls gave one another support and usually if one was sad then the other one was as well.

"Oh you are and I have most of your tracks down. All I would need is five girls to play along to a prerecorded track on stage and in music videos." Charlotte felt her stomach drop and she knew Madeline was more pissed off than ever.

"But that's stealing!" Mads said loudly and a few people turned around to look at them all.

"No-that's show business." Alex said simply with a wicked grin on his lips.

"Alex...can we have a minute?" Charlotte asked sweetly, but on the inside she was fuming. The music producer smirked, nodding his acceptance of her question and soon enough the girls were left alone.

"Would he really do that Char?" Pixie asked right away as Alex's back disappeared around a corner. Charlotte bit down on her lip before answering.

"No doubt about it. This just means we have to stick together even more." Charlotte said, her arms still around Luxe, who was staying silent for the time being.

"What's going on with you Luxe...you're never this quiet." Lulu asked and the blonde and teal haired girl seemed to come out of her trance finally.

"I'm just tired of fighting...lets just do what he says guys...Alex would know better than any of us." She sounded like a zombie, but the girls all nodded and moved to continue with the shoot.


Anne moved them around like pieces on a chess board until finally the girls all ended up on the couch with Luxe still in the middle, Char on her left with her legs spread out behind Luxe and Pixie was on the right doing the same thing. Both Lulu and Mads were perched on the back of the couch, their knees bent and their faces angry. Flashbulbs snapped away and silently Luxe wished that this could all just be over. She wanted it to end so that they could change back into their more comfortable clothing and all go over to Charlotte's place to eat pizza and talk about how much of a shit Alex was.

There would be no pizza as the girls soon found out-Alex wanted Luxe and only Luxe to stay late to work on some vocals and possibly do some other things for the coming record release party. The girls all gave her sympathetic looks as they changed and Luxe was forced to stay in her disguise for a few more hours. There was something in those looks though and as the girls left her behind, Lucinda couldn't help but feel something rise up from within.

Jealousy.

Notes

The girls are stuck, but how much are they going to put up with?

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